Thanksgiving for All!

It’s almost time to start pulling out the roasting pans to prepare for the feast! Thanksgiving is a time to be grateful for so many things, but I’m thankful for the little ones. I am thankful for not having to worry about what to serve my guests. Although your family might have its own special Thanksgiving recipes, chances are you have one for roast turkey with gravy, cranberry sauce & stuffing, mashed potatoes, vegetables, salads, and an assortment of pies.

On Thanksgiving, eating more than usual is a given—it’s a feast after all! However, paying attention to recipe selections can help your good intentions of sticking to your dietary plans. After all, most of the ingredients used to prepare a Thanksgiving feast are inherently healthy; it’s how they’re cooked and the quantity eaten that are at issue.

Choosing delicious yet healthy recipes can be time consuming, but look no further. Below is a selection of easy holiday recipes that will make any Thanksgiving splendid! What’s more, your friends and family who follow diabetes or heart-healthy meal plans can join in without “falling off the wagon.”

We also have some advice for those following a low-sodium meal plan. Try buying a turkey labeled “natural” or “organic,” it won’t be pumped with the enhanced sodium solution that is usually added to most turkeys to help keep the bird moist during cooking. Even if you brine a “natural” or “organic” turkey yourself, it will be lower in sodium than your typical frozen bird. Check out the recipe below for Lemon Garlic Roast Turkey with White Wine Gravy; it’s delicious! Another alternative is the Wine Country Turkey Recipe—in this recipe you actually keep the turkey moist while cooking by putting wine in the cavity beforehand. Remember to use low sodium turkey broth when making gravy and stuffing.

Next week we’ll be offering some last minutes tips for a stress less Thanksgiving along with ideas for all those leftover!